Expo 2020 Dubai

UAE is currently hosting Expo 2020, a World Expo which will run from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Opened after eight years, it is the first time such a global exhibition has been hosted in an Arab Nation, bringing together 192 countries. The six-month-long exhibition has been delayed by one year because of the pandemic. "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future" is the official motto, but a trio of sub-themes, including sustainability, mobility, and opportunity, anchor the event. The goal of Expo 2020 Dubai is to solve global problems by collaborating across cultures, nations, and regions. In the Expo, each nation will have its own pavilion, where it will showcase its culture, history, and achievements. Discover the latest innovations and architecture in the pavilions of more than 190 countries. As a whole, the expo, especially its pavilions, have been designed to be as sustainable as possible. Much of its energy is provided by solar panels and other renewable sources, and much of its water is recycled.

In the meantime, what will happen to the structures that will remain after the fair ends in March? There is no surprise that infrastructure built for world extravaganzas, such as world championships, becomes impractical and useless. Fair organizers claim that the park won't be repurposed, but will instead be transformed into a new mixed-use community conveniently located between Dubai's airports and transportation hubs.

The majority of national pavilions will be demolished, but the larger ones will be converted into commercial and residential spaces, hospitals, clinics, and schools. It remains to be seen whether any of them become iconic structures like the Eiffel Tower, which served as the entrance to the 1889 Fair, or Seattle's Space Needle, which opened for the 1962 fair.

It is recommended to plan ahead your visit to Expo. Those aged 18 and over will need to prove a negative PCR test or proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter the Expo site, located about 20 minutes outside of Dubai. To skip long lines, make sure you get your tickets via the Smart Queue, which allows you to bypass the long lines as you book them. Many people have to wait quite a long time to get into the more popular pavilions, including the UAE, USA, Italy, and India. Since you can't see the entire fair in one day, choose your pavilions carefully if you have a limited amount of time. However, don't just choose the big, showy pavilions, explore the smaller ones too, sometimes they are more gratifying.

Some of the highlights from Expo 2020:

Al Wasl Dome

Al Wasl Plaza is situated at the heart of the Expo. Al Wasl means "connection" in Arabic. It is a steel dome more than 220 feet tall and 800 feet wide, designed by Chicago architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill. After the sun sets, the Al Wasl Dome light and sound show begin. In addition to its stunning view of Expo 2020 Dubai, Al Wasl Dome also is a great place to simply sit and enjoy the cool breeze.

UAE Pavilion

The United Arab Emirates' pavilion is perhaps the most dramatic of the national pavilions, designed by Santiago Calatrava (who also designed the Oculus in lower Manhattan, the transport hub for the World Trade Center). A falcon's wing is the inspiration for the pavilion (falconry is a cultural touchstone in the region). During a sandstorm, the pavilion's carbon-fibre wings can close, protecting the solar panels.

Netherland’s Pavilion

In the Netherlands pavilion, among other things, there is a vertical farm and a system for harvesting water from air humidity for solving water scarcity, energy use and food shortages. There is an impressive water extraction capacity (200 gallons per day) in the pavilion. The power is generated by lightweight organic solar cells created by a Dutch artist.

Water Feature

Among the most popular attractions at Expo 2020, Dubai is a dramatic and entertaining water feature. Developed by Water Entertainment Technologies (aka WET), the feature has become a favourite with children as well as adults. There are gravity-defying techniques played to the tune of Ramin Djwadi's Game of Thrones soundtrack. It comes to life at night with coloured lights.

Expo Robots

As you visit the Expo, robots will greet you at various points. Opti, the expo's goodwill ambassador, will delight children of all ages. Around 50 of these AI-enabled robots are deployed on the grounds delivering food and dispensing information. Perhaps you'll be able to catch a flash mob of them dancing to Kanye West's song, "Stronger." You'll want to take a picture with them since they're adorable!